MSM Driving School's Learner Driver News
6th Apr 2024 - MSM Driving School partners with carVertical.
MSM Driving School in proud to announce they have partnered with carVertical. carVertical is a service that provides vehicle history reports based on VIN number or licence plate. You can check a car's mileage, damage, theft, market value, and more in the UK and other countries.
Before buying your next car, van or motorcycle, run a carVertical check on it first to ensure it hasn't been crashed, stolen or clocked. Click Here to run a carVertical check now...
26th Mar 2024 - Matt Hensley wins ‘Get Britain Driving’ South East Instructor of the Year Award.
I'm proud to announce that I have won ‘Get Britain Driving’ South East Instructor of the Year 2024 Award. The Get Britian Driving National Driving Instructor Awards were judged by James Buchannan and Paul Puesly, owners of Get Britain Driving.
I would like to take this oppertunity to congratulate all of this years winners. From Matt and all the team at MSM Driving School.
9th Feb 2024 - The UK's premier event for driving instructors is on the 12th May 2024.
The Driving Instructor Convention is the UK’s premier, one-day conference, jointly organised by Intelligent Instructor and the ADINJC.
This high-quality conference is organised jointly by two of the UKs; most trusted brands in the driver training industry. Intelligent Instructor is the UK’s market-leading publisher, and the ADINJC is the largest national driving instructor association. Both organisations have successfully worked in partnership to run top-quality events since 2019, and have established a reputation of being providers of the most professional and best-attended driving instructor events in the UK.
The Driving Instructor Convention will be held at Yarnfield Park Training & Conference Centre, Staffordshire.
Book your ticket before the 18th of February to recieve the early bird discount.
Click Here to read more about the event and book your ticket...
7th Feb 2024 - DVSA driving examiner strike suspended.
Strike action that could have affected some driving tests on the 8th to 11th February 2024 has been suspended.
5th Feb 2024 - DVSA under review.
The Government has launched an independent review of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to help shape its future. It is part of a wider Government programme looking into the effectiveness of public bodies. This review will assess efficiency, efficacy, accountability and governance.
1st Feb 2024 - DVSA driving examiner's to strike on the 8th February 2024 to 11th February 2024.
Notice of industrial action affecting driving tests.
Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) served DVSA notice of strike action on:
8th and 9th February – all PCS members in DVSA including driving examiners.
10th and 11th February – any PCS members in DVSA contracted to work weekends.
The DVSA have been working with PCS to address concerns raised about the working arrangements for driving examiners and the driving test service the DVSA provide. The DVSA have made an offer to PCS to end the dispute, which has been rejected.
30th Jan 2024 - A First Attempt Driving Test Pass For Sophie.
14th Jan 2024 - Learning to drive a manual car could become “obsolete” by 2040.
The world of driving is changing quickly, and right before our very eyes. For some time, experts have been telling us that young people are becoming less and less interested in learning to drive. Then there is the arrival of modern technology, climate change and the digital world that delivers almost everything via a screen.
Insurers, Adrian Flux, have warned that learning to drive a manual car could become “obsolete” by 2040. They reveal that automatic-only lessons have surged. It leads to the consideration that Gen Z could be the last generation to use traditional transmissions. And sales of new manual cars is also slipping. It has led the insurer to predict that manual driving lessons could cease entirely by the end of the next decade.
Gen Beta (born 2025 – 2039) could potentially the first generation to learn exclusively in automatic cars.
5th Jan 2024 - New research reveals that 15% of motorists are currently considering giving up driving.
A survey carried out by The Green Insurer reveals that the rising costs associated with owning and operating a car are making then seriously consider ditching their car.
Any decision to give up their car could heavily impact the lives of many of these motorists. Two in five (40%) say that the decision may result in them having to change or give up their current job. One in five (18%) motorists will see the surrender of their car dramatically decrease their own independence or that of someone they care for. Furthermore, a quarter (24%) of people admit that they currently depend heavily on their car for their social life and to see family and friends.
These findings reveal that rising car insurance premiums are a real concern for over a half (51%) of all car owners. Click Here to read more...
2nd Jan 2024 - 78% of drivers do the wrong thing after breaking down on a motorway.
Nearly eight-in-10 (78%) drivers would unknowingly put themselves in danger after breaking down on the motorway and stopping on the hard shoulder, new RAC research reveals.
Only a fifth (22%) of the 1,900 drivers surveyed would do the right thing.
RAC patrols Glen Johnson and James Pallister came up with the idea of making a video to highlight best practice. It shows how people should get out of their vehicles and where they should stand. Click Here to read more...
1st Jan 2024 - Happy New Year.
With 2023 now behind us, we would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very happy and healthy 2024. Thank you to everyone who has been learning to drive with us during 2023. We really appreciate your continued support and we wouldn’t be here without you. Stay safe and Happy New Year. We look forward to seeing you all again very soon. From all the team at MSM Driving School.
31st Dec 2023 - Vote for MSM Driving School for 'Regional Driving School of The Year 2024'.
With voting now open for the Intelligent Instructor Awards 2024, please help us by casting your vote for MSM Driving School in the 'Regional Driving School of the Year Award'. There is no need to vote for every category, only the categories you feel strongly about.
Public voting closes at midnight on the 21st January 2024. The award winners will be announced on the 18th February 2024.
Thank you again. We really appreciate all of your help and support. From Matt and all the team at MSM Driving School.
25th Dec 2023 - Merry Christmas.
Wishing you all a very merry Christmas. From all the team at MSM Driving School.
23rd Dec 2023 - MSM Driving School - Shortlisted For Two Awards.
We are excited to announce that for the second year running we have been shortlisted for not ONE, but TWO awards. For the forth consecutive year, I have been shortlisted as one of Intelligent Instructor’s Top 100 Driving Instructors in the UK. This year, Intelligent Instructor received over 2,300 nomintations. To make the Top 100 is a huge achievement. The Top 100 are initially nominated by learner drivers and then an independent judging panel draws up the Top 100.
I’m also extremely proud to announce that MSM Driving School has also been shortlisted for the second year running for the Intelligent Instructor Regional Driving School of the Year 2024 award.
I would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to everyone who nominated both me and MSM Driving School. This would not have been possible without you and we really appreciate all of your help support.
Public voting closes at midnight on the 21st January 2024. The award winners will be announced on the 18th February 2024.
Again, thank you to everyone who nominated us. From Matt and all the team at MSM Driving School.
12th Dec 2023 - Drivers unaware of The Highway Code changes introduced two years ago.
It’s nearly two years since the Highway Code went through significant changes to better protect vulnerable road users.
A ‘hierarchy of road users’ was introduced, prioritising those most at risk on our roads. Prior to this, all road users were on an equal footing and equally responsible for their own safety and the safety of other road users.
Now, it is up to drivers to be more aware. A new hierarchy was created, with pedestrians at the top, followed by Cyclists, Horse riders, Motorcyclists, Cars and taxis,Vans and minibuses, and finally HGVs. Click Here to read more...
4th Dec 2023 - Shorter daylight hours add to tiredness behind the wheel.
Autumn and winter months can make driving more difficult in many ways, not least the adverse weather conditions. Another issue that arises is the shorter daylight hours. Click Here to read more...
1st Dec 2023 - Test waiting times increasing despite DVSA efforts.
Length of driving test centre waits revealed are still rising. In special report, analysis of the official DVSA data shows that despite extra measures, demand is still outstripping supply. In spite of the government rolling out new rules in summer 2023 to reduce the driving test backlog, waiting times have increased.
Compared to this time last year, queues have lengthened by an average of 5.1 weeks. Whilst the average waiting time for Great Britain was 14.2 weeks in October 2022, the average waiting time is now 19.3 weeks. It’s a far cry from the pre-coronavirus average waiting time of six weeks. Click Here to read more...
22nd Nov 2023 - Learners shelling out more than a grand on theory test attempts.
Driving theory test candidates at 10 test centres spent more than £1,000 each getting their pass certificate.
A Freedom of Information request to the DVSA by AA Driving School revealed the most spent on theory test attempts before passing was £1,380 at Redditch theory test centre. This equates to 60 attempts of the £23 test.
84 driving theory test centres saw candidates shell out more than £500 each getting their pass certificate after passing on their 22nd attempt. Half of driving theory test centres (125 centres) saw at least one candidate spend £345 to take the test 15 times before they were successful.
The data, revealed by AA Driving School via a Freedom of Information request to the DVSA, shows test the centres which saw candidate(s) spend more than £1,000 to pass their theory test. Click Here to read more...
22nd Nov 2023 - Intimidation behind the wheel is a real issue.
Four fifths of motorists feel intimidated behind the wheel, with ‘tailgating’ ranking top as the main driver behind stress and worry.
As part of Road Safety Week, new research by Aviva reveals that the majority (79%) of drivers are intimidated by other motorists while on the road. Click Here to read more...
15th Nov 2023 - National Highways launches latest road safety advice.
Have a safe TRIP this Autumn and Winter heads the latest advice on road safety from the Highways Agency. It is the latest phase of a long-term road safety campaign, advising drivers about the importance of preparing for long journeys. Click Here to read more...
25th Oct 2023 - Pass rate remains stubbornly below 50% with common driving faults to blame.
The latest UK pass rate for driving tests is 47.1%. It means that more than half of driving tests continue to end in failure. Over the last year, the DVSA has been pushing for candidates to only book a driving test when they are fully prepared. It was hoped this could help reduce waiting times for tests, but also improve the overall pass rate. It would also save many candidates the added costs of retaking tests. Click Here to read more...
22nd Oct 2023 - MSM Driving School - 'Top 3 Driving School in Reading', 8 years running.
We’ve done it again! For the 8th year running, we are extremely proud to announce that we have been listed as one of the Top Three Driving Schools in Reading.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your continued support over the years. We wouldn’t be here without you. From all the team at MSM Driving School.
27th Sep 2023 - DVSA to cut waiting times, "announcement on urgent action".
DVSA is creating 150,000 additional driving tests slots in order to cut waiting times for tests. Beginning next week, personnel who hold a warrant card for driver testing will be back on the front line. The DVSA are asking those already trained colleagues to test full-time to tempararilly move back to examination roles over the next 6 months.
This will allow for the generation of an additional 150,000 driving test slots. These additional slots will be drip-fed into the booking system in fortnightly batches, starting from next Monday (4th October). Whilst the release of such a large number of additional tests is good news, it will inevitably cause some disruption to other DVSA services. The agency says it will work to try and keep to a minimum. Click Here to read more...
11th Sep 2023 - Rise in the number of people failing the driving test due to poor vision.
A study of DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) data reveals a rise in the number of people failing their driving test before even getting the car. The reason, poor eyesight.
According to analysis from the learner driver insurance company Veygo, 2,190 candidates have failed their driving tests at this point over the last five years due to poor eyesight. Driving tests cost £62 each, so Veygo estimates that nearly £136,000 has been wasted overall before the cars exited the test centre. Click Here to read more...
4th Sep 2023 - Learner drivers face increased abuse from other road users.
Learner drivers are on the receiving end of more abuse than ever before. That’s the conclusion of a report by the BBC. Driving instructors say they and their learner drivers are experiencing regular abuse from other road users. Incidents of intimidation, swearing and being spat at have been reported.
Police are encouraging drivers to gather and share video evidence. This can help them prosecute offenders. The investigation centred on the Bristol area, though the issue isa national problem. Click Here to read more...
26th Jul 2023 - Demands on the government to control e-scooters as injury numbers rise.
The Prime Minister has been sent a letter demanding urgent action on regulation of e-scooters. It has been signed by more than 50 organisations, including environmental charities and campaigners, local authorities, disabled people’s organisations, micromobility operators and retailers.
Not only are they are all warning that the UK is at risk of falling behind the rest of Europe, but that currently the situation is a free for all situation lacking regulations or enforcement. Click Here to read more...
7th Jul 2023 - DVSA chief questioned about the state of test waiting times.
Waiting times for driving tests are not improving but getting worse in many areas. In a number of areas of the UK, candidates are having to wait more than five months. In all, 80% of all driving test centres have waiting times above the pre-pandemic average of six weeks.
The long waits are one reason why Loveday Ryder, the Chief Executive of the DVSA, was called to a meeting with Parliament’s Transport Select Committee. Click Here to read more...
20th Jun 2023 - The cost of failing the practical driving test.
The pass rate for the practical driving test remains stubbornly under 50%. It’s an issue that has proved very difficult for clearing the backlog in driving test post pandemic. In fact the issue of long waiting times for tests was a problem for years prior to the lockdowns too.
While every year there are around a million people looking to take their test for the first time, there are hundreds of thousands looking to retake. This failure rate is costing candidates millions of pounds every year. Click Here to read more...
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